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A review by greeneggsandsam
The Perishing by Natashia Deón
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
"Others will call your joy a fiction or call you a liar or immoral or dangerous for your happiness, but their conclusions are only a reflection of their limited imaginations, their own abilities, their being stuck in their lives. It's not a rewrite of yours."
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Perishing is a historical fiction fantasy mix in which we mainly follow Lou, a black immortal in Los Angeles during the 1930s. Lou wakes up in an alley, naked and without any memories. We follow her story as she learns not only who she is, but what she is as well.
This book is definitely unique. The synopsis really doesn't do the book or it's important topics justice. We follow dual timelines, but the bulk of the storyline follows Lou, and the other timeline narrative is mostly insight and reflection.
The Perishing starts in a way that is super confusing, and I was very unsure at first. But once you get a little way in, it starts to make sense. The writing is a very abstract the whole way through, and sometimes I didn't understand and had to reread sentences or paragraphs. However, I feel like this book had so many important messages in it and delved into topics of gender equality, racial discrimination, capitalism and poverty, and LGBTQ+ rights. The way these topics were brought up and narrated is what made me fall in love with this book. I took half a star off because sometimes the writing was so abstract I struggled, and I'm not 100% certain why it had to be that way.
I do think this book is for a particular audience, and if you go into this wanting some grand fantasy you're going to be let down. I think the low reviews are partially due to the marketing of this book. And while it wasn't what I expected at all, I love how this book was laid out to talk about so many important topics. While it sometimes discussed things that seemed irrelevant, I also learned more about the time period.
A unique book, a fresh take on issues that have been important all of our entire country's history.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Perishing is a historical fiction fantasy mix in which we mainly follow Lou, a black immortal in Los Angeles during the 1930s. Lou wakes up in an alley, naked and without any memories. We follow her story as she learns not only who she is, but what she is as well.
This book is definitely unique. The synopsis really doesn't do the book or it's important topics justice. We follow dual timelines, but the bulk of the storyline follows Lou, and the other timeline narrative is mostly insight and reflection.
The Perishing starts in a way that is super confusing, and I was very unsure at first. But once you get a little way in, it starts to make sense. The writing is a very abstract the whole way through, and sometimes I didn't understand and had to reread sentences or paragraphs. However, I feel like this book had so many important messages in it and delved into topics of gender equality, racial discrimination, capitalism and poverty, and LGBTQ+ rights. The way these topics were brought up and narrated is what made me fall in love with this book. I took half a star off because sometimes the writing was so abstract I struggled, and I'm not 100% certain why it had to be that way.
I do think this book is for a particular audience, and if you go into this wanting some grand fantasy you're going to be let down. I think the low reviews are partially due to the marketing of this book. And while it wasn't what I expected at all, I love how this book was laid out to talk about so many important topics. While it sometimes discussed things that seemed irrelevant, I also learned more about the time period.
A unique book, a fresh take on issues that have been important all of our entire country's history.